Chinese automaker BYD has unveiled what can only be described as the ultimate playground for car enthusiasts, a sprawling all-terrain driving experience centre in Zhengzhou. The facility combines a race track, off-road courses, water challenges, and even a Guinness World Record-certified sand incline, making it unlike anything offered by other car manufacturers, including Europe’s most prestigious brands.
At the heart of the centre lies a 1.7-kilometre circuit featuring nine corners and a 550-metre straight. The design allows BYD’s most powerful models, including the all-electric YangWang U9, to hit speeds of up to 220km/h. Adjacent to the track is a massive 164,687 square-foot paddock built for slalom manoeuvres, moose tests, and demonstrations of automated parking technology.
For those seeking something more unconventional, BYD has created a low-friction zone made from 30,000 smooth basalt bricks, kept constantly wet to replicate the challenges of driving on snow and ice. The automaker has even constructed a 70-metre-long pool. This unusual addition exists not for leisure but to showcase the YangWang U8’s ability to float and move slowly across water thanks to its advanced electric powertrain, a capability unheard of in the industry.
Equally dramatic is the facility’s towering sand incline, which has already been certified by Guinness World Records as the highest and largest dune climbing structure built for vehicles. Constructed with 6,200 tonnes of sand resembling that of the Alxa Desert, it allows the U8 to demonstrate its unique off-road prowess. Complementing the dune is a dedicated off-roading course, while a spacious camping and relaxation area ensures visitors can unwind between activities.
Access to the centre is offered through a tiered ticketing system. The entry-level package is priced at 899 yuan (RM585), giving participants a passenger ride in the YangWang U9 alongside an experience in one of the Dynasty or Ocean series vehicles. For 999 yuan (RM650), visitors can also sample two models from BYD’s Denza and Fang Cheng Bao brands, including the Z9 GT on track.
A more comprehensive package costs 1,999 yuan (RM1,300) and includes both the YangWang U8 and U9, as well as vehicles from the Dynasty, Ocean, Denza and Fang Cheng Bao ranges. At the top of the scale sits the VIP ticket, priced at 6,666 yuan (RM4,350). This premium option grants full access to all vehicles and experiences, coupled with a night’s stay in a nearby five-star hotel.
With its combination of cutting-edge test facilities and customer-focused attractions, BYD’s new centre blurs the line between an engineering proving ground and a theme park. It not only underlines the company’s growing ambition in the automotive world but also sets a new benchmark for how carmakers engage with enthusiasts and potential customers.
